Dracula (1979)

In 1913, the charming, seductive and sinister vampire Count Dracula travels to England in search of an immortal bride.

Director:

John Badham

Writers:

W.D. Richter (screenplay), Hamilton Deane (play)

Stars:

Frank Langella, Laurence Olivier, Donald Pleasence

1 win & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Frank Langella	...	Count Dracula
Laurence Olivier	...	Prof. Abraham Van Helsing
Donald Pleasence	...	Dr. Jack Seward
Kate Nelligan	...	Lucy Seward
Trevor Eve	...	Jonathan Harker
Jan Francis	...	Mina Van Helsing
Janine Duvitski	...	Annie
Tony Haygarth	...	Milo Renfield
Teddy Turner	...	Swales
Sylvester McCoy	...	Walter (as Sylveste McCoy)
Kristine Howarth	...	Mrs. Galloway
Joe Belcher	...	Tom Hindley
Ted Carroll	...	Scarborough Sailor
Frank Birch	...	Harbormaster
Gabor Vernon	...	Captain of Demeter

Storyline

When a ship is wrecked off Whitby, the only survivor, Count Dracula, is discovered lying on the beach by the sickly young Mina Van Helsing, who is visiting her dear friend Lucy Seward. Lucy, her fiancé Jonathan Harker (a solicitor), and her father Dr. Jack Seward (who runs the local asylum) try to make the Count feel welcome to England. The Count quickly takes the life of Mina, and proceeds to romance Lucy, with the intention of making her his greatest bride. Soon after the death of Mina, the Sewards call her father Dr. Abraham Van Helsing to come to their home. As Lucy falls deeper under the spell of the Count, Dr. Van Helsing almost immediately comes to understand that his daughter fell prey to a vampire and discovers the culprit to be none other than the Count himself. Dr. Van Helsing, Dr. Seward, and Harker work together to foil the Count's plans to take Lucy away to his native Transylvania.

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Plot Keywords:

homosexual subtext | jonathan harker character | mina murray character | lucy westenra character | renfield character | 

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Taglines:

The story of the greatest lover who ever lived, died, and lived again.

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Genres:

Horror | Romance

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English Dutch Romanian Russian

Release Date:

20 July 1979 (USA)

Also Known As:

Drácula

Filming Locations:

Carlyon Bay, St Austell, Cornwall, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$12,164,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$3,141,281, 20 July 1979

Gross USA:

$20,158,970

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$31,235,812

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures, The Mirisch Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

109 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Sylvester McCoy was interviewed for Renfield.

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Goofs

When Dracula transforms into a bat and attacks Renfield in Carfax, he falls backwards, rolls over a crate and down the stairs, colliding with the "stone" balustrade as he falls (and causing it to wobble).

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Quotes

Count Dracula: I have buried many friends, and I too am weary.

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Alternate Versions

Director John Badham intended to film the movie in black and white but was forced by the studio to shoot in Technicolor. When the movie was re-released on laserdisc in 1991, at the behest of Badham, the lush color was drained from the film. All subsequent home video releases feature the desaturated print.

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Connections

Version of Van Helsing (2004)

User Reviews

This is the sexiest Dracula ever made.

Having seen almost all the Dracula and vampire movies ever made, I have to say this one is my modern favorite. I never understood why all those women went so willingly with Bela Lugosi. I mean, he scares me to death. But Frank Langella. Well. What can I say? He's so beautiful and suave, I started taking iron just in case he dropped by for a sip. About 1 hour into the movie is the sexiest scene I have ever watched. And there is NO nudity. All the women I know who have seen this movie know exactly where and when this scene is. Anything else that needs to taken care of is done BEFORE this scene plays. It is always very quiet while it plays and we always watch that it more than once.